It is the 41st Millennium in Sub-Sector Aurelia, a cluster of worlds on the edge of the Galaxy, and a battle of epic proportions is about to begin. Ancient races will clash across the planets that dot this section of space, battling for the greatest of stakes - not only the claim to the land and its bounty, but the fate of each race.

Dawn of War II features the best campaign for any Real Time Strategy (RTS) game ever. It has addictive RPG elements, semi-random loot, epic characters, engaging storyline, beautiful graphics, and solid gameplay. The campaign can be played co-op too, so you can even experience all this with a friend. No RTS has even compared to the campaigns quality, and it’s possible that no game ever will.

The campaign alone makes it worth a purchase. Which is good considering its lackluster PvP (player versus player multiplayer). If you want to experience the best RTS campaign ever, this is a game you need to have. If you want to play a multiplayer RTS, go pick up StarCraft II.

Cool features from CoH were removed such as the need to connect territories with each other and doctrines, which in my opinion is more flexible and more 40K lore-friendly than the Commander Selection feature we get prior to a game. Also, not much new combat features have been added.

Another thing that bothers me personally, though probably unimportant, is how weapons don't seem to have cooldown and accuracy multipliers depending on the range. I think there is a damage modifier though but that seems to be only present in a few weapons such as shotguns.

The much whined-about inexistent base-building and the over-simplified teching system pretty much removes the strategic aspect from what is supposed to be a real-time STRATEGY game.

I haven't completed the campaign myself but so far, the missions feel so repetitive and hence boooring. The general pattern of the maps feel uniform, the missions objectives and the types of units I face at a time are mostly the same, so it becomes predictable and feels like a routine rather than a mission that I feel there's great need to accomplish.

Also, (read in a whiny voice) the environment reverts to its original state when I deploy in an area that I've already done a mission on. Had they made it so that the destruction I left behind in that area would persist in future missions, they might have created a more realistic and unique feel to every mission.

I'll give it OPTIMAL value>6/10.
Dow 2/Retribution is a good game in terms of Graphics and engine.Aslo destroyable enviroment was cool. BUT there are several problems that truly ARE an eyesore for DOW fans.

1-DOW2 has ONLY 6 races > wtf RELIC where did Necrons/Tau/Sisters/Dark Eldar/IDH go????? Ah half of Mother F*cking game is MISSING here!!!

2-Really really limited unit choice for any fraction usually up to 10 units ONLY!! WTF again Relic??? DOW Apocalypse has 11 units FOR Space marines only in BARRACKS!!! And overall over 35!!!

3-Relic removed all buildings and left ONLY 1- HQ. Now that is stupid.

4-MOST annoying feature relic added in Dow 2 /retribution (i really want to kill all those motherf*uckers for this) it is TADAAAAAH the RETREAT BUTTON/Ability. Man that is simply idiocy.(Facepalm)If you want to retreat just move your forces back and forth. But with this 'Magick' button squad starts to run so fast no one can catch them LOL and long range fire form enemy units is decreased times 2.I know that melee also increases times 2 but man its the dumbest idea of them all. I cant imagine SM say : FOR DA EMPERROR!!! and next second retreat >_> total bullsh*t.SM could never ever retreat.